The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-27


utes. Locked thus in each others embrace,
they wept the tears that flow from silent
joy.
AT length, withdrawing himself from his
mothers clasp, Charlie extended his hand to
his stepfather saying:
''How are you, Mr.. Woodbury.
The gentle tones in which the words were
spoken instantly revived Mr.. Woodburys
affection for the young man, which had be-
come chilled by the latter's GOODNESS, and 1t
was only by a great effort that the impul-
sive, kind-hearted old gentleman could re-
frain from straining the youth to his bosom;
He eagerly grasped the extended hand and
pressed it long and warmly.
81 am well thank you, my son" he SAID,
with a delighted smile Il am enjoying
SPLENDID health and growing roster and fat
ter every day. IA hearty laughl You are
looking well-indeed splendid. You have
made an elegant-looking man, hast he,
Nanp
The fond mother of course answered in
the affirmative
so you received my telegram announc-
ing our arrival" continued Mr.. Woodbury..
Yes, sir; and | left Alexandria on the
first train coming North"
$50 anxious to see mamma, you couldn't
wait until we went Souths Eth, my boy|
Eyes, sir" replied Charlie, smiling. HOW
are you, florlne| -,
Thank you, am well, your reverence, !"
was the stiff reply, accompanied by mock
ing bow.
''Has my stately sister no kiss, no words
of tenderness for me after so long separa-
tionm
The pleading voice touched Florine's
heart. She loved her brother as much as
her cold, selfish nature was capable of low
ing him or anybody else. She went up to
him. kissed him, and then, withdrawing to
a seat, surveyed him from head to foot.
greatly to his embarrassment.
"Well, sister mine, what do you think of
mel" he asked, blushing slightly. You
were always disposed to harshly criticize
my looks"
81 think you really handsome" she re-
piled, earnestly. II never thought you
would make so handsome man. You are
not so fat and coarse-looking as you were in
your boyhood. Time has softened and re-
fined your features. Besides, your hair has
turned several shades darker, which adds
immensely to your looks. You know | al
ways did despise light-haired men and boys!
They always remind me of white mice.
Mrs. Woodbury., with one of her hus-
bands dressing robes thrown across her arm
and pair of his slippers in her hand, APP
preached Charlie at this juncture and said:
''You look warm and tired, my son; put
these on, and make yourself comfortable "
81 fear, Charlie, you will lose yourself in
that robe" said Mr.. Woodbury., with one of
his good-natured laughs. II fear also if you
take many steps you will walk out OF those
slippers" 1870, ,,,,,,;.
ter, smiling.
When he had put on the robe and the
slippers and seated himself, his mother took
a seat beside him, and, taking his hand in
her own, murmured:
"Mother is So overjoyed to see her boy
again"
''You are not more overjoyed to see me
than | am to see you dear mother"
"Charlie, mother, made herself perfect
blockhead the whole time we were IN
Europe because you were not with us, SAID
Florine. "She treasured that photograph
YOU sent her three years ago more sacredly
than a Catholic guards his rosary. More
than a dozen times a day she would kiss
your picture, and call you by every pet
name she could think of. | heard her one
day call you st. John and almost in the
same breath my pigeon You look very
much like pigeon, don't you! Charlie,
look at mother how pale and thin she is,
and attribute all OF this to her needlessly
pining after you"
Mother has greatly changed, said Char
lie, sadly "but, ah, my sister, she is Tar
more beautiful to me now than she used to
be. From the wreck of physical beauty has
sprung a spiritual beauty, which can never,
never fade | see this divine beauty in her
countenance, in her manners, and long ago
| discovered from her letters that great
change had come over our mother-that her
proud. worldly nature had become hum
bled and sweetened by divine grace. You
live now, dearest mother, for the life TO
come, do you no ("
AS he asked the question Charlie raised
his eyes to his mothers face.
Eyes, my DEAR answered the lady.
"Through your influence have been led to
the Lamb of God that taketh away the
sins of the world, and found peace and par
don unto my soul"
''If l had thought religious talk was to
spring from what l said, would never
have opened my mouth" exclaimed Florine,
frowning angrily.
Mrs. Woodbury. and her son both regarded
the girl with an expression of inetfable
pity, but neither uttered any words of re-
buke for the perverse speech.
"Charlie, you too have greatly changed, !"
said Mrs Woodbury., turning again to her
son. "You are as rosy and healthy-looking
as ever, but still you are not your old self.
The mischievous light of boyhood has
faded from your countenance, and in its
place has come a dreamy, mournful expires
sion that pains me'exceedingly. What sor-
row has my boy experienced"
Mother, you are as blind as bat, " cried
Florine. 'Do you not know he has loved
Pauline Morriss ever since he has been
wearing pants and that be is pining because
he has lately realized that his love is not
reciprocated-that Pauline loves that ideal
of manhood over whom Richmond is going
mad-that Virgil Paine-who is Webster
in intellect, a Demosthenes in eloquence,
Luther in courage, a Melancthon in gentle
ness, an Adonis in beauty, Washington
in patriotism, and Paul in godliness."
Chlorine, why do you speak so sarcastic
ally of my friends" demanded Charlie,
who was ever ready to defend our hero.
because | despise him-the hateful, sol
emn-faced thingm retorted the girl.
''Despise him!" cried her brother. 81
should like to know what grounds you have
for doing SOL Everybody loves Virgil
Paine, it seems, but you"
Il care not If everybody on earth adores
him. Idespise him-yes, ! despise him. In
every letter you wrote to mother you were
sounding his praises, and in every letter |
received from Pauline she was eternally
prating about his intellect, his maniness,
his fearlessness, and so forth. | verify be-
leye Pauline Morriss thinks him the grand
est and purest piece of humanity that ever
walked the earth.
Chlorine, you have said enoughm said
Charlie 81 think you have no right to de-
nounce my friends in such bitter termsn
Come, come, children" said Mrs. Wood